Knights suffer first cup defeat

The Knights were on the end of a clinical Carnegie display this afternoon, suffering a first defeat in the Championship Cup.

Carnegie put the first points on board through Jacob Umaga, the full-back scoring a penalty from inside the Knights' 10m line. The on loan Wasps player then doubled the score line moments later with another penalty to make it 6-0.

Paul Jarvis looked to have got the Knights' first try when he found a gap and sailed through, but play was brought back for obstruction after 10 minutes.

The Knights did reply though with a Dougie Flockhart penalty on 14 minutes to half the opposition's lead to 6-3 after 15 minutes. Umaga soon extended that lead with another penalty.

Carnegie scored the first try of the afternoon, when Dan Temm found a gap from 30m out and sprinted to the corner to dot down. Umaga converted to give the home side a 16-3 lead after half an hour.

It was our rivals that extended their lead again, when Harry Davey intercepted a pass about 40m out and sprinted clear to make it 26-3 going into the break after an Umaga conversion.

The second half started with a much improved performance from the Knights as the visitors began to play with intensity.

However, it was Carnegie that got the next try. Elder driving over with Te Rure converting.

The Knights did reply with a driving maul, new addition Rory Pitman the scorer to make the scoreline 33-10 after 69 minutes.

Moments later, academy and Doncaster Phoenix players Sam Pocklington and Seth Adams entered the field as the youngsters made their senior debuts.

The Knights kept fighting and Curtis Wilson reduced the score line further with an excellent try as he sprinted away down the right to make it 33-15.

Doncaster kept attacking into the latter stages and scored another through hooker Ben Hunter after an impressive driving maul, but it was too late to turn the result into a victory as the Knights left with 33-20 defeat, despite an encouraging second half performance.